GHHI Thanks Attorney General Schneiderman for Strong Support of New York Families

On behalf of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman for his for strong support of New York families, and dedication to creating healthy, safe and energy efficient homes. Attorney General Schneiderman today announced that he is teaming with the Rochester Area Community Foundation and Home HeadQuarters, Inc. in Syracuse to launch a $2 million sustainable homes program.

The program will help low-income families lower their energy bills and eliminate serious home health and safety hazards in older homes. As GHHI’s work is demonstrating in 21 cities across the country—children, seniors and families in Western New York will experience improved health, social and educational outcomes as a result of this program. Working together we truly can realize our collective mission to break the link between unhealthy housing and unhealthy families.

Endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and with support from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Energy, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Council on Foundations and numerous philanthropic partners, GHHI serves as the national model for green and healthy homes interventions. The GHHI model has shown dramatic improvements in asthma and other home-based environmental health issues. We are committed to effective collaborations that result in healthier housing and healthier communities and will be delighted to work in partnership with Rochester and Syracuse.

This new program in New York is funded with money from a $9.5 million court-ordered settlement with American Electric Power (AEP), the largest U.S. power company, over violations of the federal Clean Air Act. In 2010, $2.6 million of these funds supported the launch of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative in Buffalo (GHHI Buffalo) and we are absolutely thrilled that the Attorney General recognized the good work being done in that community. GHHI Buffalo is expertly administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and has aided 379 of Buffalo’s neediest families – including almost 200 children – to lower their energy bills and eliminate serious home health and safety hazards in older homes.

This additional $2 million investment will enable Syracuse and Rochester to replicate the highly-successful GHHI Buffalo program. We at GHHI sincerely congratulate the Cities of Syracuse and Rochester on this award!